The race for the top prize looks to be between Rory Mcilroy of Northern Ireland, who won The Open and US PGA in his best year in golf, and England’s newly crowned double Formula 1 world champion Lewis Hamilton.

McIlroy was 2-9 with William Hill last night, with Hamilton 3-1.

Welshman Gareth Bale makes the shortlist after his two goals for Real Madrid in their Champions League final win. Visually impaired skier Kelly Gallagher of Northern Ireland is the other non-English nominee.

But Scotland doesn’t have much to moan about after taking the title twice, with Sir Chris Hoy and Andy Murray, since 2008.

And a BBC spokeswoman stressed that December 14’s bash in Glasgow would have “a real Scottish flavour”, with celebrations of both Glasgow 2014 and the Ryder Cup at Gleneagles and performances from Simple Minds, Nicola Benedetti and the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra.

Last year’s winner Murray said 2014 was a great year for Scottish sport, and SPOTY would be “a special night for Scotland and the UK”.